There are arguments as to the origin of the Whippet. Some of the fanciers of the breed will tell you that this is an ancient breed that has been around since at least the fifth century A.D. A more common belief is that the Whippet was purposely bred down from the Greyhound when small Greyhounds were crossed with Terriers to produce an exceptionally useful rabbit hound and racer. At first called "Snap dogs", these racy little hounds were used extensively for rabbit coursing by the local farmers in Great Britain. In order to produce more stamina in the breed they were crossed with bull terriers at one point.